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improvement in Mail-Bag Fa'stenings, 8m. ND. 114,239, Patented Apri|25,1 87l.

r 2Sheets-=Sheet2, M. V. B. WHITE.

Improvement in Mai l-Bag 'Fastenings, &c. No. 114,239.

Patented Aprii 25 Fig.8.

Fig.11.

Inventor. 1% M a? %/'2j Aitys- Wine sacs rant dfiioz.

MARTIN V. 13. WHITE, OF FORT EDWARD, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 114,239, dated April 25, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAG FASTENINGS, 84c.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Marcus V. B. Warn], of Fort Edward, in the county of Washington and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Mail-Bags, Satchels, 860.; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact'description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a. part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail-bag having its mouth secured by one of my fasteners;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line at x of fig 1;

Figure 3 is an edge view of the jointed divided rib attached to the upper edge of said bag;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the lower side of the inclosing tube;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the inner side of one of the sections of said jointed rib;

Figures (5 and 7 are end elevations of the same;

Figure 8 is a central longitudinal section of the lock end of the fastener;

Figure 9 is a like view of the same 9n a line at a right angle with said section;

Figure 10 is a cross-section of the lock on the lines 5 z of figs. 8 and 9;

Figure 11' is an end elevation of said lock and Figures 12 and 13 are, respectively, a side and an end elevation of the key.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each-of the figures.

My invention has for its object the securing together of the mouths of mail-bags, satchels, dam, in a convenient and reliable manner; and

It consists, principally, in the employment of a sec tional divided metallic rib upon and around the mouth of the bag, substantially as and for the purpose hereinai'ter shown.

It further consists in combining with said rib an inclosing tube having an internal size and shape corresponding tberewith, substantially as hereinafter shown, and for the purpose specified.

In the annexed drawing- A represents an ordinary mail-pouch or bag, secured to or around the upper or open end of which is a metallie rib, B, having, preferably, a half-round shape eXtcriorly, above the edge of the leather, and composed of a series of short sections, (3, jointed together and attached to said bag, as is hereinafter shown.

Projecting vertically downward from the inner edge of each section is a flange, 0, provided with a series of holes, 0, for the reception of an equal number of rivets l), by means of which said section is attached to the edge ol'the bag. while ll'Ulll one end of the halfround portion of said section proj cots outward a tongue, 0, that corresponds with and fits within a vertical notch,- c", c'ut'witbin the outer face and end of the adjoining section, so as to cause each section to afford a certain amount of support, laterally, to the others and furnish a continuous rib, while, at the same time, allowing a sufficient degree of flexibility to said rib to enable the mouth of the bag to be freely distended.

As thus constructed, the ribs upon opposite sides of the mouth, when closed together, form a vertebra, having a general round form extcriorly, so as to permit of the placing thereon of a corresponding tube, E, which is provided with a longitudinal slot, 0, for containing the sides of the ba One end of the vertebra or united ribs is slightly tapered, so as to enable the tube to be more readily placed thereon, while the opposite end of the same is provided with a collar, F, which serves as a stop to said tube, and also to prevent access to its interior.

It willbe seen that when the ribs are inclosed within the tube they are held firmly together, so as to pre-.

vent access to the interior of the mail-bag through its mouth, so that if said tube be locked in place by the devices shown, or by any suitable means, said bag is rendered entirely secure against pilfering, unless sufficient force is employed to break or destroy some portions of the device; in addition to which the fastening can be removed from or replaced upon the bag in onetenth the time ordinarily required.

The sections upon one side of the bag are so arranged as to break joints with those upon the opposite side, so that when bound together by means of the tube their lateral rigidity is largely increased and a considerable support furnished to said tube.

As this device dispenses with the customary leather flaps, straps, metal staples, metal-bound slots or eyes for the passage of the latter, and with the padlock, a decrease in weight is effected, and the cost of the bag materially lessened.

When used for satchels, traveling-bags, 850., the rib placed around the mouth of the same should be rigid, as from the construction of said articles their sides are permitted to spread apart in parallel lines, so that no necessity cxists for flexibility of the ribs.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention,

VVh-at I claim as new is-- 1. The rib or vertebra B, composed of overlapping sections 0 provided with the tongues c and corresponding notches c", substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the vertebra B, constructed as described, the slotted tube E, sul stantially as and for the purpose shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of April, 1871.

M. V. B. \VHI'IE.

\Vitnesses:

Gnoncn S. lnnvDLn, EDM. F. BROWN. 

